A lack of flowering from plant species across southern parts of Western Australia, particularly from the common marri tree, has led to a tough season for beekeepers.
Key points:
- Beekeepers in the South West have struggled with their worst season in decades
- A lack of flowering from species such as the marri tree has impacted honey production
- Local honey could soon be more costly and in short supply
Bunbury apiarist Steve McQuillin has been keeping bees for around 40 years and said it was the worst season he had seen for decades.
"At the moment we have 120 to 140 hives and we've actually lost a few," he said.
"It's the first time I've had hives die in the middle of a honey flow.
"I've gotten to know a lot of local beekeepers and they've all said the same thing."
Flowering species hard to find
Bee Industry Council of WA chief executive Liz Barbour agreed that it had been an unusual few months.
She said mobile beekeepers across WA had to work very hard to find any flowering at all.
"At the beginning of the season, they had to go very far north to get some good flowering," Dr Barbour said.
"And then the marri flowers came in, but they really only flowered north of Perth and they didn't do very well down south."
Dr Barbour said it was even more difficult for stationary beekeepers, especially in the South West.
"You're very exposed to what's actually flowing just in your area, what impacts you will see in terms of consumers and the availability of honey," she said.
"So honey supply will be a little bit low, and certainly that high-quality honey that we produce here will be a little difficult to get hold of this season."
Honey will be in short supply
Mr McQuillin agreed that local honey would become harder to find and more expensive.
"We've probably had 500 jars here for sale over the last three weeks and we're down to about 60 or 70," he said.
"There's not going to be a lot of honey available this year for winter colds and flus ... and it will go up in price."
Dr Barbour said she had high hopes for next season as the marri species usually flowered better every second year.
"This last year was relatively poor so we expect a good year next year," she said.
"The rain we've had so far has been deep, which is good, but there is a prediction that we're going to have a drier winter by the end.
"So we shouldn't have interference of rain affecting the flowering and I think we're actually looking very confident into this year coming."